Answer:
American colonists held key ideas about government that shaped the foundation of the United States. They valued limited government to protect individual liberties and believed in representation, expressing the principle of "no taxation without representation." Influenced by Enlightenment thinkers, colonists embraced the separation of powers and the rule of law to prevent tyranny. The concept of natural rights, including life, liberty, and property, influenced the Declaration of Independence. The social contract and the belief that governments derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed were integral to their political philosophy. Colonists favored local self-government, and a revolutionary spirit emerged, leading to the quest for independence during the American Revolution. These ideas collectively formed the basis for the unique system of government in the United States, as enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and principles of American democracy.